Hello,

I was out taking care of my garden today when I passed by a tree that was growing by my fence. I noticed this tree had a lot of small fruit on it. There are no trees like this in the area as far as I know. I'm trying to figure out what it is.

It's growing right next to the fence, and I don't want it to damage the fence. Trying to figure out if it's worth saving the tree.

Pictures of the fruits, the leaves, the bark, and the tree itself.












Jared

Hi Jared

Its a Mulberry tree (Morus). The fruit is edible but some trees produce better fruit than others.

Hello,

@Daisyl, thank you so much. I really appreciate the help.

I have no idea how the tree got there, but it's there. It's growing right next to the fence, literally.

How do you usually tell when the berries are ripe?

Thanks again,

Jared

They will start falling from the tree - the ripe berries come off in your hand very easily, like picking ripe blackberries. Your tree was a gift from the birds.

The darker the fruit - towards dark blue/black - the riper it is. You can squeeze them, too - softness is a good indicator.

If you like the flavor, you won't want to wait lest the birds take them and deposit seeds elsewhere. You will learn to test your tolerance for the gradation of tartness as you work back from full black ripe to deep red to reddish pink.